Hikers and campers rejoice, gorpcore is in!

Hikers and campers rejoice, gorpcore is in!

- JUN 23, 2017 FRIDAY

Lovers of outdoor activities can rejoice because gorpcore is now considered high fashion.

What’s gorpcore you ask? In late May, the style was coined by New York Magazine’s The Cutto describe the winter version of normcore, but less bland. Normcore is the term used to describe the trend towards average-looking, unisex, unpretentious clothing.

Warm and functional. Credit: Marques’ Almeida

In gorpcore, utility is favoured over style. Ironically, the trend is now accepted as stylish all over the world. So hi-five if you’re a hiker or a camper, and get out your old Duke of Edinburgh gear from high school, because mountain boots, parkas, and utility belts are now in.

A gorpcore couple holds hands and prepares for the hike ahead.

Gorpcore looks include puffy jackets, fleece vests, raincoats, socks and sandals, bumbags, torches on lanyards, and metal water bottles strapped to pants. Hawaiian prints and camouflage are also prominent.

Functional accessories and clothes designed for extreme conditions and outdoor use all fit under gorpcore. So chances are, you’ll have plenty of stuff lying around the house which you could use to incorporate a bit of gorpcore into your outfit.

Camo lover. Credit: Prada

There’s something very liberating about rejecting traditional style rules and embracing bright colours, outlandishly large and warm jackets, and comfortable clothing that allows free movement. Just last week, I saw four people in their 20s in Sydney’s Inner West wearing matching Patagonia jumpers, Carhartt pants, and beanies with keys and drink bottles strapped to their sides using carabiners. You know, those clips that mountain and rock climbers use? Gorpcore is really happening.

Carabiner chic

If you’re hesitant to go full gorpcore, you can always combine a couple of subtler outdoor items, such as a plain parka or Birkenstocks, to a more conservative look. Comfort is key in gorpcore – both physical and mental.

Outdoor schoolboy. Credit: Magaret Howell

The new trend has encouraged a rise in the sales of outdoor brands such as North Face, Columbia, Patagonia, and Birkenstock. The designs are becoming more extreme in their functionality.

A good example is the advertisement where a girl talks about designing a jacket that converts into a tent using her Windows 10 tablet.

Jacket tents and tablets. Credit: Screenshot/Youtube

That girl is former design student Angela Luna. With the jacket tent, she has created the ultimate gorpcore garment, which is not only super trendy but also was originally designed for Syrian refugees.

Tent jacket. Credit: Screenshot/Youtube

This is the way of the future. If gorpcore is a style you think you can rock (climb), grab a jacket tent today!